Pedal mechanism.



G. P. BRAND.

PEDAL MECHANISM.

APPLIQATION FILED MAEJZ, 1910.

01 3 57 Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

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G.P.BRAND. PEDAL MECHANISM.

' APPLICATION FILED MARJZ, 1910.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

avwe/nfoz Gwwaid M J j q vitwaoawo GEORGE I. BRAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PEDAL MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9,1912.

Application filed March 12, 1910. Serial No. 548,988.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. BRAND, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedal Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in pedal mechanism for pianos and it has for its objects among others to provide a simple, yet efficient means for supporting the pedals and allowing them to fold within minimum space. I provide a supporting frame with means pivotally connected therewith at the transverse center, with side arms pivotally mounted upon the exhausters or other stationary parts of the device and the other ends of these arms are turned at an angle and detaohably engaged in suitable members on the frame and serving as the pivots upon which the pedals are mounted. By removal of the fastening means which attach the ends of said arms to the exhausters or other stationary parts, the transverse portions of the arms may be readily removed from their engagement with the frame and the lugs on the pedals. The under face of the pedal is formed with a longitudinal depression with means therein for the pivotal attachment of the link which connects the pedal with the exhauster, this link being foldable or receivable within said depression when the pedals are in their folded position. The feet are rigid with the supporting frame, so that as the frame and pedals turn on the horizontal portions of the side arms, the said feet maintain substantially a vertical position during all of the movements of the pedal from its folded to its open position and vice versa.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of pedals constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation with the pedals in their open position, with parts broken away and portions in section. Fig. 3 is a substantially central longitudinal section through one of the pedals. Fig. 4: is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 8. Fig. 5 is a perspective view looking at the under side of one of the pedals. Fig. 6 is a detail with a portion broken away, showing in section one of the supporting feet of the pedal frame. Fig. 7 is an edge view looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, showing the pedals in their closed position. Fig. 8 is a similar View, showing the parts in their open position.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the different views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a frame or base casting having at opposite ends depending portions 2 which constitute the supporting feet of the pedals. These may or may not be provided with rubber or analogous cushions 3 of usual form. At the center, this frame is shown as depressed, forming a substantially U-shaped portion 4, as seen clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and upon opposite sides of this central portion are lugs 5 which are perforated, as shown, similar lugs 6 being provided at the outer ends of the frame and likewise perforated. This central depression is not necessary, although a convenient way of providing means for attachment of the operating lever at a point low down in order to turn the frame and keep the feet parallel during the pivotal movement of the frame. Other provision, however, may be made for the pivotal attachment of the lever in this low-down position. In this instance, this downward eX- tension is provided with lugs or the like 7, between which is pivotally mounted, as upon a pivot 8 held in said lugs, the lever or connecting link 9 which is formed upon a compound curve, as seen in Fig. 1, the other end being provided with a perforation 10, whereby it may be attached to the exhausters or some other stationary part of the piano.

11 are side arms. They are formed at one end with substantially right-angled portions 12 which are received within perforated ears 13 on brackets or the like 14: secured to the eXhausters or other stationary parts. The other ends of these side arms are extended at right angles to their length, as seen at 15, these right-angled portions being oppositely disposed and extended toward each other, as seen clearly in Fig. 2. They are passed through the outer lugs 6 of the frame 1, through perforations in the lugs 16 on the under side of the pedals and into the inner lugs of the frame, all as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. WVhen thus secured in position, the right-angled portions 15 serve as the pivots on which the pedals 17 and the frame 1 turn. When the fastenings of the brackets lt are removed, the right-angled portions 15 of the side arms may be readily removed from their connection with the frame and the pedals, whereby the pedals are quickly dismounted or the frame detached. The pedals themselves may be of any wellknown or approved form of construction except that upon their under faces at their inner ends they are each formed with a depression 18, and Within this depression are lugs 1.9 between which are pivotally mounted the links 20, the other ends of which are adapted to be connected to the movable boards of the exhausters.

Upon reference to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the perforations 21 in the lugs 19 are at a point approximately in line with the lower face of the pedal, so as to bring the pivotal connection of the links 20 as near the upper face of the pedal as possible, so as to economize space in folding and also to get longer movement of the pedal in operatio-n after the parts are in their unfolded condition by providing greater distance between the rail and the under face of the pedals or the pivotal point of attachment of the links.

In operation, in folding the pedals from the position in which they are seen in Fig.

1 to that in Fig. 7, the pedals are moved upward and inward from the position shown in Fig. 1, and in this movement the pedals turn on the horizontal portions 15 of the side arms and the frame 1 also turns on said horizontal portions, the parts assuming the position seen in Fig. 7, the link 20 being received within the depression 18 of the pedal,

, so as to allow the latter to fold within the ficiently strong to withstand all strain and undue lateral play is positivelyprevented. This is materially augmented by the centrally disposed arm 9 and its low down attachment to the frame.

Modifications in details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

hat is claimed as new is a 1. A pedal frame having rigid feet and a depressed portion between said feet, side arms connected at one end with said frame, and a link pivotally connected at one end with a fixed support and at the other end wit-h said depressed portion, the depressed portion lying in the same plane as the longi and a linkpivotally connected at one end with a fixed support and at the other end with said depressed portion, the pivotal point of said link being disposed in a plane below the plane of the upper face of the said frame and in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet and below the pivotal points of the side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with its fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of the side arms to said fixed support.

3. A pedal frame having legs rigid therewith and pedal supporting portions and a depressed portion between the pedal supporting portions, side arms pivotally connected at one end with opposite sides of the frame, and a link pivot-ally connected at one end with a fixed support and at the other end with the said depressed portion, the depressed portion lying in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet and the pivotal point of said link with said depressed portion being below the pivotal points of said side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with some fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of said side arms with said fixed support.

4. A pedal frame having legs rigid therewith and pedal supporting portions and a depressed portion between the pedal supporting portions, side arms pivotally connected at one end with opposite sides of the frame and a link pivotally connected at one ioo ios

end with a fixed support and at the other end with the said depressed portion, the other ends of said side arms constructed. for attachment to some fixed support, the depressed portion lying in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet and the pivotal point of said link with said depressed portion being below the pivotal points of said side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with the fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of said side arms with said fixed support.

5. A pedal frame having legs rigid therewith and pedal supporting portions and a depressed portion between the pedal support-ing portions, side arms pivotally connected at one end with opposite sides of the frame and a link pivotally connected at ohe end with a fixed support and at the other end with the said depressed portion, the other ends of said side arms constructed for attachment to some fixed support, said link being formed upon a compound curve, the depressed portion lying in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet and the pivotal point of said link with said depressed portion being below the pivotal points of said side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with the fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of said side arms with said fixed support.

6. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith and a central downwardly depressed portion, side arms pivotally connected at one end to opposite sides of said frame, and a link pivotally connected at one end with a fixed support and at the other end to said depressed portion in a plane normally below that of the point of connection of said side arms and in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet, the pivotal point of the link with the depressed portion being below the pivotal point of the side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with its fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of the side arms to said fixed support.

7. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith and a' central downwardly depressed portion, side arms pivotally connected at one end to opposite sides of said frame, and a link pivotally connected at one end with a fixed support and at the other end to said depressed portion in a plane normally below that of the point of connection of said side arms, and in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet, the pivotal point of the link with the depressed portion being below the pivotal point of the side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with its fixed support being out of aline ment with the pivotal points of the side arms to said fixed support, said link being formed upon a compound curve.

8. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith and portions for supporting the pedals and an intermediate downwardly curved portion, side arms pivotally connected at one end with opposite sides of said frame and a member pivotally connected at one end to some fixed support and at its other end with the curved portion at a point below the point of attachment of said side arms and in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet, the pivotal point of said member with the depressed portion being below the pivotal point of the side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said member with its fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of the side arms to said fixed support.

9. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith and portions for supporting the pedals and an intermediate downwardly curved portion, side arms pivotally connected at one end with opposite sides of said frame and a member pivotally connected at one end to some fixed support and at its other end with the curved portion at a point below the point of attachment of said side arms, and in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet, the pivotal point of said member with the depressed portion being below the pivotal point of the side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said member with its fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of the side arms to said fixed support, said member being formed upon a compound curve.

10. A pedal frame having feet rigid there with and portions for supporting the pedals and an intermediate downwardly curved portion, side arms pivotally connected at one end with opposite sides of said frame, a member pivotally connected at one end to some fixed support and at its other end with the curved portion at a point below the point of attachment of said side arms, pedals pivotally mounted on said frame, and in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet, the pivotal point of said member with the depressed portion being below the pivotal point of the side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said member with its fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of the side arms to said fixed support, and links pivotally connected with the pedals near the upper face thereof.

11. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith and upwardly extended lugs, pedals having depending lugs, and side arms having horizontally disposed right angled portions extended through said depending lugs on the pedals and supported in the lugs of said frame. v

12. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith and upwardly extended lugs, pedals having depending lugs, side arms having horizontally disposed right angled portions extended through said depending lugs on the pedals and supported in the lugs of said frame, and means for attaching the other ends of said arms to stationary parts of a piano.

13. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith and upwardly extended lugs, pedals having depending lugs, side arms having right angled portions extended through the depending lugs on the pedals and supported in the lugs of said frame, and means for attaching the other ends of said arms to stationary parts of a piano, said frame having a central depressed portion and a link pivotally connected at one end to some fixed support and at its other end with the same at a point below the pivots of the pedals, the depressed portion lying in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet and the pivotal point of said link with said depressed portion being below the pivotal points of said side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with the fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of said side arms with said fixed support.

14:. A pedal frame having feet rigid therewith, pedals pivotally mounted at opposite sides of said frame, links pivotally connected at one end to some fixed support and at its other end with the pedals and a link pivotally connected with said frame at a point in a plane below that of the pivots of the pedals, the depressed portion lying in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the feet and the pivotal point of said link with said depressed portion being below the pivotal points of said side arms with the frame, the pivotal point of said link with the fixed support being out of alinement with the pivotal points of said side arms with said fixed support.

Signed by me at WVashington, D. C., this 10th day of March 1910. I

GEORGE P. BRAND. WVitnesses:

E. H. BOND, JOHN SORIVENER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

